Downpour✔️

|4| Stranger

"Sometimes you don't know what you need to help you out of the dark pit you find yourself in...but it still comes your way in many shapes and forms. Some may even come as strangers with kind hearts and warm smiles sheltering you from the pelting rain and hurt"

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I bite down on the inside of my cheek shifting my feet a bit feeling the way my socks have gotten wet in my boots making it uncomfortable to feel but I push it back focusing on the present thing I want to do.

"You aren't bothering me...you can stay if you want" I shrug immediately looking away not wanting to see if I made the wrong or right choice of words but before I can lose hope of not being alone on the curb of the street I hear him move before seeing him sit down next to me almost startling me even if there is a respective distance between us.

The most shocking part is that he is sitting on the wet ground and the large umbrella is more tilted to me so when I turn my head to look at him I see his shoulder exposed to the rain but the way he is looking out to the distance seems like he doesn't even care at all.

Silence follows once again but this time it feels comfortable just knowing there is a presence next to me which makes me decide to sigh pulling my knees to my chest tighter and resting my head on my knees before speaking.

"Mister stranger, can I share something with you?" I ask not risking a glance to him as I hear him make a sound in question before responding.

"Of course, I won't speak either if you don't want me to comment on it" He says and I nod pressing my lips together before blinking away my blurry vision taking in a deep breath.

"My life...my life got turned over this last 2 weeks and I have no idea what to do. I don't know what to do anymore...and the people closest to me just hurts me more trying to push their thoughts onto me...I feel so tired and I don't want to cry anymore" My voice shakes and I sniffle stuffing my nose into my knees hiding my face away with my hair clinging to my face.

"Can...can I ask you a question?" My words are muffled but are loud enough to be heard as I hear him let out a soft yes and I feel the corners of my mouth quirk upwards painfully.

"Would...would you take back someone that c-cheated on you? Someone you...you loved with your whole being and did something like that?" I ask softly as my eyes glaze over saying it out loud.

"Well....I've never in that position but I think it depends on everything. Honestly if it were me I wouldn't be able to but I know that differs from person to person what they would choose. It doesn't matter what other people think over it if you are sure of your choice though and you are sure it would be the best thing for you...I think that being in that position is terribly hard...especially alone"

I lift my head looking over at him as a few tears fall from my eyes and hold my breath seeing kind eyes looking at me now.

"I used to think I would never question if I should take back or leave...b-but I don't know how easy it could possibly be losing my fiance and other half...I feel so stupid but I keep on questioning what will be best....I don't want to hurt anymore" My face crumbles and I see the sadness washing over his features.

"You are allowed to be so confused on what to choose...you have a hard decision and nobody should push you to answer. I may not know you but I can see you have a kind heart and it makes me sad seeing you hurting so badly. The world hasn't been kind on you and the people around you haven't either" His soft voice is comforting and I give him a broken smile not being able to keep it before shaking my head.

"If I had such a kind heart then why would he do this to me?" I know there isn't an answer to that question since I shouldn't blame myself for his actions but somehow I just want to know. I want to know if that was the reason that it affected me so much while people around me keep moving forward with their lives even him.

"Your heart has nothing to do with it. Doesn't matter if you were a good or bad person...it doesn't mean you deserve to be cheated on my the person who you trusted and love. Loving someone comes in many shapes but even in the most platonic love betrayel hurts so it doesn't have to do with your heart...you didn't deserve the pain" I let out a choked sob hating how the stranger's words make such an impact on my heart.

"I-I still love him though...d-does that make me bad for not wanting to forgive him?" He frowns and shakes his head shifting in his seat as he takes a deep breath.

"You should never think so Miss...if your heart doesn't feel ready then it doesn't feel ready. It will only hurt you in the end if you force yourself to forgive..." I rub my face against my wet sleeve before nodding and looking down.

"Forgiveness...it doesn't mean taking back you know...I understand to a certain point what you are thinking but forgiving takes time and even years at most. Even if you forgive him in weeks...it doesn't make your heart and mind forget and it doesn't mean you need to take him back but you can if you want to. People can judge but in the end it's your life"

I look at him in his eyes and he gives me a small closed lip smile before looking up at the sky and speaking again.

"It may not be my place to say this but stranger to stranger I truly believe that you need to follow your heart and mind combined together. When you think of your future do you think forgiving and taking him back will make you happy years later or do you think not taking him back will make your heart heal again until you are able to forgive and live happy without him? You can choose your future...let the rain wash away other's opnions and start anew....choose your path you want now Miss stranger"

His words leave me speachless as I don't find myself able to look away from him as he looks back at me with the softest eyes I've ever seen a stranger look at someone they don't know before. I'm so stunned I don't even realise that he pushes the umbrella closer to me until it is solely above me and my hand shakes as I unrap my arm around me knees and the hand that had loosened it holds on my sweater to take the umbrella looking at him with a question mark on my face.

"I've stolen enough of your time and I know that it is getting pretty late now. You can take my umbrella since I'll be fine without it, the coffee shop I work at is just behind us anyway and I'm sure Hannah will let me stay for a bit to let the rain lettle down a bit more" He starts to get up but my eyes go wide before stopping him but tugging on the sleeve of his jacket immediately taking my hand back apologising but he looks at me shaking his head at my apology.

"Is there something you wanted to say?" He asks still with a gentle voice and I swallow the lump in my throat feeling so much lighter after speaking to him giving him my first real smile in so long.

"Thank you so much...you are the kindest person I've met before...you helped me alot thank you" He beams at my words showing me a boxy smile.

"Your welcome dear. It was a pleasure talking to you tonight and I hope if we ever meet again then it will be with you being endlessly happy" I clutch onto the umbrella as I secretly hope that it really won't be our last meeting ever.

Unlikely but....

"My name is Park Rina" He tilts his head at my words before showing me his boxy smile again as he bows his head slightly showing how his hair is sticking to his forehead from the rain.

"Nice to meet you Park Rina-ssi, I'm Kim Taehyung"

"Nice to meet you Kim Taehyung-ssi" I smile at him as a small comfortable silence follows before he breaks the silence again.

"Get home safely Rina-ssi and I hope happiness comes to you soon and...I'm happy to see your smile...it's beautiful" He bows in greeting and as I bow my head back I feel lost in a trance at his words while watching his back dissapear as he approaches a glass door opening it before going in making me loose sigh of him. My eyes travel to the top of the building seeing the name of the coffee shop.

Indigo....

I smile again as I push myself up from the ground feeling strange as the heaviness of the day feels like it faded away and I can't help but look up at the white umbrella before looking at the rain.

"Your friend was right Taehyung-ssi...the rain really means change...and...maybe meeting you made me look at the place I'll find my answers..."

I hold back the tears gathering in my eyes again as I turn around to walk away.

Maybe it's time to choose what my heart and mind wants for the future...I'll choose what I believe will make me happy